About

Dalton has actively embraced an innovative and progressive tradition for approximately 100 years. Read an introduction from Head of School Jim Best; learn about Dalton's history and founder Helen Parkhurst's Education on the Dalton Plan; view Dalton's mission and values, including the School's intentional commitment to establish equity and diversity, and review Dalton's most recent Strategic Plan.

Programs

Dalton offers its 1,300 students a wide array of stimulating and challenging programs taught by passionate and dedicated faculty. Outstanding academic offerings are complemented by exemplary performing and fine arts curricula – taught by faculty who are professionals in their fields – and a full range of athletic teams and extracurricular activities.

Our Community

Dalton takes great pride in the strength of its engaged and collaborative community. Students, faculty & staff, parents, and alumni work together to advance mission, celebrate tradition and enhance school culture. Students, teachers, and alumni serve on the Board of Trustees, along with the Administrative Team.

Admissions

At Dalton, the primary focus is to nurture children's natural inquisitiveness, develop self-confidence in their intelligence and ability to succeed, and teach them to be responsible and independent learners and thinkers.

News & Calendar

Dalton regularly posts its good news, events and more for applicant families, alumni and other interested parties. Dalton regularly features news stories, photos, video and announcements about our students' achievements and other products of our progressive mission.

Kai (Senior)

Posted - 10/9/2017

I first started my research in 2014, when I helped a Long Island biologist with a Northern Bobwhite reintroduction project.

We released several groups, or “coveys”, of quail on protected land, provided them with supplemental food and water, and monitored them via trail cameras for several months. In the summer of 2015, I worked with a Head Research Ecologist from the NY Parks Department to study plant, amphibian, dragonfly, and bird populations in urban parks around the city. We especially focused on declining urban breeding bird species. For this reason, we were able to help CUNY University band and monitor Seaside and Saltmarsh sparrows and Clapper Rails in marshes around the city. Later that summer, I conducted independent research at the E.N. Huyck Preserve. I researched how alarm calls, food, or a stuffed predatory bird could attract birds to mist nets for banding. I made a poster and wrote a scientific paper in the preserve’s annual journal. In the summer of 2016, I worked at the Swaner Preserve in Utah. There, I helped create Sandhill Crane banding protocol, worked on restoring damaged habitat, and studied stream health through invertebrate counts, stream embankment surveys, and willow growth. Later that summer I went to Cornell to learn about new technology in relation to bird research and have my first experience with working with captive raptors. This spring I’ll be conducting an independent project for my senior initiative on how imprinting can influence Bobwhite Quail reintroductions.